MAGDEBURG, Germany — A car drove into a crowded outdoor Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg on Friday, December 20, 2024, leaving numerous people injured in what authorities suspect was a deliberate act.
The driver of the vehicle was arrested at the scene, according to German news agency dpa, which cited unnamed officials in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Regional government spokesperson Matthias Schuppe and city spokesperson Michael Reif indicated early suspicions that the act was intentional.
“The pictures are terrible,” Reif said. “My information is that a car drove into the Christmas market visitors, but I can’t yet say from what direction and how far.”
Injuries and Emergency Response
The exact number of injured remains unclear. Magdeburg’s University Hospital reported that it was treating between 10 and 20 patients and preparing for more, highlighting the scale of the incident.
First responders flooded the scene, their sirens contrasting with the festive decorations of the Christmas market, which featured garlands, ornaments, and vendor booths adorned for the season.
Debris was visible on the ground in footage from the site, which was cordoned off by police.
“This is a terrible event, particularly now in the days before Christmas,” said Saxony-Anhalt Governor Reiner Haseloff.
The governor was en route to Magdeburg and said he was unable to provide further details on the victims or the motives behind the incident.
A City in Shock
Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, writing on X, formerly Twitter: “My thoughts are with the victims and their relatives. We stand beside them and beside the people of Magdeburg.”
Magdeburg, a city of approximately 240,000 residents and the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, is now grappling with the shock of the attack during what should have been a festive celebration.
Echoes of Past Tragedy
Friday’s suspected attack comes nearly eight years after a devastating incident at a Berlin Christmas market on Dec. 19, 2016, when an Islamic extremist drove a truck through the crowd, killing 13 people and injuring dozens.
The attacker was killed days later in Italy.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser had stated late last month that there were no specific threats to Christmas markets this year but advised vigilance.
Investigation Underway
Authorities have not released information about the driver’s identity or motives, and police are continuing to investigate the incident.
The Magdeburg Christmas market, a popular destination for residents and visitors alike, has been temporarily closed as officials assess the situation.
“We must remain vigilant in the face of such tragedies,” Governor Haseloff said, urging calm as details of the event emerge.
This developing story has left a nation preparing for the holidays now mourning another dark day in its history.
